Everything Las Vegas Issue # 679
September 27th. 2008
DONNY & MARIE UNVEIL HEADLINING VARIETY SHOW AT FLAMINGO LAS VEGAS.
America’s favorite siblings, Donny & Marie, recently unveiled their much-anticipated headlining variety show at Flamingo Las Vegas. Aptly named Donny & Marie, the talented twosome delivers a high-energy stage production that incorporates singing, dancing, comedy, audience interaction, and their signature brother-sister banter.
The 90-minute production marks the first time in 29 years that Donny & Marie have performed an extended residency engagement in Las Vegas.
“The audience response to Donny & Marie has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Don Marrandino, President of Flamingo Las Vegas. “Each night they perform to a packed showroom and receive standing ovation after standing ovation. Donny and Marie fans are coming from all over the country and all parts of the globe to see this show; they give people another reason to come to Las Vegas.”
Opening Sept. 9 to sold-out crowds, the “little bit country, little bit rock n’ roll” duo dazzles audiences and takes them on an entertaining, multi-media journey, showcasing their careers both together and individually. The pair performs some of their most memorable hits including “It Takes Two,” “Morning Side of the Mountain,” “I’m Leavin’ It All Up to You” and “Deep Purple.”
Highlighting their individual successes as recording artists, both Donny and Marie perform greatest hit solo sets. Marie croons chart-topping “Paper Roses,” “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” and a Broadway medley including “All That Jazz,” “Life is a Cabaret” and “Phantom of the Opera.” Donny rocks audiences with the powerful smash hit “Soldier of Love,” melts hearts with “Puppy Love,” and “Twelfth of Never,” and gives audiences a taste of his Broadway career with Andrew Lloyd Weber’s “Any Dream Will Do.”
Presented by Danny Gans and Chip Lightman of GansLight Entertainment, the production boasts a cast of eight highly skilled dancers and a nine-piece band. Under the direction of award-winning director and choreographer Barry Lather, Donny & Marie is bursting with intricate choreography that incorporates all forms of dance, including jazz, modern, hip-hop and swing. The expertise of accomplished musical director, Jerry Williams, is evident throughout with sparkling charts and high-energy instrumentals.
“Donny and Marie are such seasoned performers that we had a lot of fun bringing out their individual personalities through dance and movement,” said Lather. “They are supported by eight sensational dancers resulting in a first-class production that appeals to audiences from all walks of life.”
Housed in the legendary Flamingo showroom, fans will find that there is not a bad seat in the house. With five large video monitors, and a stage thrust that jets out well into the audience, the 750-seat venue allows show-goers to be in the center of the action and get up close and personal with their favorite Osmonds.
“The Flamingo is rich in history and has been home to some of Las Vegas’ finest entertainers, Wayne Newton, Gladys Knight, and most recently Toni Braxton,” said Gans. “We feel privileged to be part of that legendary line up.”
Donny & Marie performs at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday with an additional Saturday matinee at 4:00 p.m. Ticket prices are $85, $99 and $115 (plus tax and fees). A limited number of VIP packages are available for $250 (plus tax and fees), which includes a special after-show commemorative photo with the stars. Tickets are available at the Flamingo Box Office, by phone at (702) 733-3333 or (800) 221-7299 or by visiting www.flamingolasvegas.com
Robbers hit Hilton's Superbook.
Source: The Las Vegas Review Journal
A pair of gun-toting bandits robbed the Las Vegas Hilton's Race and Sports Superbook early Friday.
Although Las Vegas police did not provide the size of the haul, one source put the amount at $570,000.
Two individuals with handguns entered the sports book shortly before 6:15 a.m. and demanded money from a ticket maker's window.
"They were wearing stuff that totally obscured their face and hands," Sgt. Chris Tomaino said. "They were in and out in about 30 seconds."
Police couldn't tell what sex the individuals were, he said.
No one was injured in the robbery, according to police.
A getaway car with Nevada license plates was recovered by police shortly after the heist, Tomaino said. The robbers had switched vehicles.
Few people were in the sports book at the Hilton, on Paradise Road between Sahara Avenue and Desert Inn Road, at the time of the robbery, he said.
Investigators are carefully reviewing surveillance video for clues that would lead to the capture of the robbers, he said.
Tomaino wouldn't say how much was taken, but was "enough to catch our attention."
A hotel executive said the robbers got away with a combination of cash and casino chips.
Police have requested anyone with information about the case call Crime Stoppers at 385-5555.
http://www.lvrj.com/news/29835624.html
Trippies 2008: Open For NominationsLadies and gentlemen, the nomination phase for the Trippies 2008 : Best (and Worst) of Las Vegas Readers Poll Awards is officially here.
Frankly, it's hard to believe that this is the fourth time we've sampled the likes and dislikes of Vegas tourists at large. Time – like an armada of 3-D glasses – certainly does fly. Kinda like the presidential primaries, this is the nomination phase. The top five vote getters (or more if there's a tie or too close to call) will be submitted for final voting… the winners/losers of which get the virtual trophy and a buffet chock full of all the bragging/complaining rights they can eat. Nominations will close in about three weeks. Final voting will begin on U.S. Election Day (November 4th) and continue for about 4 weeks. The winners will be announced in early January 2009. We've added a few new categories (Best/Worst Service, Hidden Gem) and taken a bunch away that either didn't get many votes or weren't applicable. You can nominate as many times as you'd like, but be aware that we're keeping our eyes peeled for ballot stuffing. Here tis :Trippies 2008 Nominations Everything LV can be nominated in the following catagories: 1-Best Vegas Website. (You could nominate me for "Vegas Person Of The Year" but that would be overkill…certainly true…but overkill) Remember, we have to be NOMINATED to reach the finals so please vote !!!! Thanks a lot, Steve Note: AOL people are having problems with the voting link. As an alternate web browserm please use FIREFOX as a first choice, then use Internet Exporer. Steve's Las Vegas Quickies: The Forum Shops at Caesars has welcomed several new tenants: Balenciaga with its first Las Vegas store; Just Cavalli with a complete remodel of its only Las Vegas store; and Juicy Couture Intimates that will open its first Las Vegas store later this year. Hawaiian Tropic Zone at Planet Hollywood is tackling Monday Night Football action each week with game viewing on a 36-foot tall plasma screen wall, and drink specials including $25 all-you-can drink Coors and Coors Light. In addition, each week fans can sign up to win a trip to the 2009 Pro Bowl in Hawaii. A new half million dollar parking lot for 12 vehicles is under construction at the Strip's iconic Las Vegas Welcome Sign. It will be open by November and make it much safer for the thousands of people who stop daily to take photos. JW Marriott is offering the all-inclusive Holiday "Suite" Escape Shopping Package for two. Available Nov. 21 to Dec. 31, the package includes a stay in a one-bedroom suite, complimentary champagne and sweets on arrival, dinner in Ceres Restaurant, daily buffet breakfast, spa passes, and shuttle transportation to the Strip, which takes about 20 minutes, for shopping. Price is $259 per room, per night, based on double occupancy, call 877-869-8777. The topless Fantasy revue beauties at the Luxor escorted actor Joe Pesci for his night on the town at LAX, where he ordered up the expensive Cristal champagne.
2-Best Vegas Blog. OK Vegas Tripping Guys..I accept the "blog" label (-:
3-Best Vegas Message Boards.
The cast of Planet Hollywood’s "Stomp Out Loud" appeared with Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee on Planet Green TV’s "Battleground Earth" environmental show with rapper-actor Ludacris.
You can watch a trailer for the new feature documentary on the making of Love at www.beatles.com/core/love/documentary/clips/ titled "All Together Now." The documentary has won raves at selected film festival screenings but will now be released as a DVD on Oct. 21 and will be on sale at the Love boutique in the Mirage – the day after digital cinema audiences get to see it for the first time in select theaters.
Las Vegas is temporarily losing its sole nonstop air link to Asia. Korean Air is suspending its thrice-weekly flights to and from Seoul until mid-December, the Las Vegas Sun reports. The resumption of service will be timed to capitalize on the Consumer Electronics Show. Passenger loads on the Seoul-LV route have been down 6% so far this year. The suspension is part of a larger retrenchment in Korean Air's U.S. service.
Although it has received 65,000 inquiries about jobs at Encore, Wynn Resorts says that it is still looking for candidates to fill the 5,300 projected jobs at the resort, which opens in December. It also says that it is deploying a multilingual job-interview staff, fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish and German.
That's according to Mike Weatheford, who reports that the showbiz grapevine is buzzing with the rumor that Mandalay Bay has lined up The Lion King to replace Mamma Mia!, when the latter calls it quits on Jan. 4. "If it comes to pass, the title will challenge the perceptions that Las Vegas gave up on the family trade, even though the classy production by offbeat director Julie Taymor has proved its cross-generational appeal," Weatherford writes of The Lion King. A Cirque du Soleil show had been mooted for the MBay theater, but CdS is already committed to Believe at Luxor and an untitled, Elvis Presley-themed show for Aria.
In honor of the upcoming Oct. 25 five-year anniversary of the free Sirens of TI show at TI, the property's Wet spa is offering discounted spa packages for hotel guests who "want to get in touch with their inner Siren or Pirate": Sirens Spa Package * Wet Signature Massage (50 min) – $112 (normally $140) * Wet Signature Pedicure (50 min) – $76 (normally $95) Total: $188 total (plus gratuity) Pirates Spa Package * Intensive Therapy Massage (50 min) – $104 (normally $130) * Men's Pedicure (50 min) – $56 (normally $70) $160 total (plus gratuity) Note: This deal is also available to locals, but not in conjunction with the 20%-off local rate deal that's offered Sun. through Thursday.
Lost in the shuffle of the big Las Vegas bargain story in Friday's USA Today was an accolade for the non-casino restaurant, Rosemary's. The local favorite was named in USA Today's list of "10 Great Places for Solo Diners to Pull Up a Chair." The Rosemary's bar menu is excellent, and the reviewer gets it right, singling out the barbecued shrimp with Maytag blue cheese coleslaw, which is excellent.
Comedy Festival tickets go on sale today (www.comedyfestival.com), with a lineup that includes Jerry Seinfeld, Ellen DeGeneres, Tracy Morgan and Katt Williams. The festival is being held again at Caesars Palace, from Nov. 20-22.
Barry Manilow unveils his new show, "Ultimate Manilow: The Hits" at 8 p.m. today at the Las Vegas Hilton. It replaces "Music and Passion," which opened at the Hilton on Feb. 23, 2005, and featured a mix of his hits and songs by other artists. His new show primarily features his own hits, along with a new set and staging.
Tickets: $95-$225. Reservations: 732-5755
The Tropicana "Winners Club" is offering double cashback through Oct. 23 based on play on all tracked slot games including video poker. There is no blackout dates and no limit to the amount players can earned. Players can redeem their cashback anytime they like — as long as they have at least $5 accrued. Please realize, however, before you play that this is one of the few players clubs in Las Vegas that does not use a coin-in based point formula, so you do not know exactly how much this promotion is worth.
Source: PLAYERS EDGE
Best new patio experience on the Strip:
The patio at Lavo at the Palazzo can seat about 100 and it's going to be a contender for the Strip's most popular outdoor dining venue, especially at night. It's located across from Treasure Island's "Sirens of T.I." show. Perfect for sharing desserts and exotic hookah flavors after grazing through the tapas-style Mediterranean menu. Managing partner Jason Strauss said the inspiration came from Les Bain Douches, a former Turkish bathhouse that was converted into one of the hippest clubs of Paris.
ReviewJournal.com – Neon – NORM: The Good Ol' Days
Best bet for a backstage tour?
It's rare, but it happens. Cirque du Soleil's "KA" at the MGM Grand offered it to the public not long ago. The rest of the time it takes some serious juice, as in high-end guests or celebrity. Over at The Mirage, "Love," the Cirque collaboration with the Beatles, has been offering Tapis Rouge, French for red carpet. For $295, you get one of the best seats in the house, open bar at the Beatles' Revolution Lounge, tray-served appetizers, and gift bag that includes a program, a poster and a signature martini glass. Early-show attendees who buy the package make it a post-show experience. Late-show participants get the pre-show experience.
ReviewJournal.com – Neon – NORM: The Good Ol' Days
The Hawaiian Tropic Zone at the Miracle Mile Shops, 3663 Las Vegas Blvd. South, now offers a package with a three-course dinner and ticket to "Steve Wyrick — Real Magic" for $119.95 plus tax and tip. For details or reservations, call 731-4858, visit www.HawaiianTropicZone.com or stop by the hostess stand at the restaurant.
Cher has cancelled her weekend shows at Caesars Palace because of an undisclosed illness. She also cancelled her Tuesday and Wednesday performances, along with another on Sept. 7. There is no word on when she may return. She has been dogged by health issues in recent years. She was hit with a mystery illness late last year, at a time when there was speculation whether she was going to sign a deal with Caesars.
Fright Dome Prepares To Scare At Circus Circus Las Vegas.'
From: www.accessvegas.com
Halloween festivities in Las Vegas officially begin at 7 p.m. October 3 when The Adventuredome at Circus Circus reanimates into its sinister alter ego, Fright Dome.
Opening weekend festivities include special guest appearances by Sid Haig, who appeared as Captain Spaulding in Rob Zombie's "House of 1,000 Corpses" and "The Devil's Reject" horror classics, and Bill Moseley, who appeared as Otis Driftwood in both films, as well as "Halloween."
Adding to the heart-pounding scares this year are three new haunted houses – HillBilly Hell, Vampire's Bloodfeast and The HEX-MAS Nightmare, complete with falling snow. Other new features include Scare Zones with monsters and super creatures lurking in the dark and an off-the-wall stunt show starring the hosts of "Guinea Pig," the thrill-a-minute series airing on Discovery Channel Canada that pushes human experiences to the extreme.
"We are so excited to bring Fright Dome back this year," said Jason Egan, founder and owner of Fright Dome Productions. "With 23 rides and attractions, including aerial haunts with 'drop demons,' terrifying premium rides, a haunted 4-D FX theater, haunted ride films and more, this is sure to be our best year since we began in 2002."
Other sure-to-terrify highlights include one of the only female sword-swallowers in the world, Lady Diabla, and her Xtreme Sideshow Circus featuring Stigmata – tattooed from head to toe, performing suspension acts – and Lil' Miss Firefly – one of the world's smallest girls, measuring in at just above two feet.
Ranked as the fourth scariest haunted attraction in the country for two consecutive years by AOL, Fright Dome is open from 7 p.m. – midnight, Oct. 3 – 5, 10 – 12, 16 – 19, 23 – 26 and 29 – 31.
Tickets are $33.95 for a single night. Fast pass tickets are available for an additional $15 and allow express line entry for all five haunted houses. Discount coupons are available at Fright Dome sponsors' Hollywood Video, Del Taco, Albertsons and Fright World Halloween stores.
http://www.accessvegas.com/forums/show_posts/deals-news-events/fright-dome-prepares-to-scare/854#
Performances of “Raw Talent Live” to Begin on October 3 at the Sahara Hotel & Casino.
ND, the creator, producer and director of “Raw Talent Live” announced today that tickets are on sale for the first performance of the highly anticipated spectacular, “Raw Talent Live.” The show will debut at the Sahara Hotel & Casino on Friday, October 3. Tickets are $79.95, inclusive of tax and fees, and can be purchased by visiting RawTalent.com, SaharaVegas.com or by calling the Sahara Hotel & Casino box office at (702) 737-2515 or toll free at (888) 696-2121.
“‘Raw Talent Live’ will be a show unlike any other on the Las Vegas Strip,” said ND. “With all of the intricacies involved in the show’s development, ‘Raw Talent Live’ will pave the way for the next generation of entertainment in Las Vegas. It’s raw, obviously it does not work, dare to see the show.”
“Raw Talent Live” will bring a new side of entertainment to the Las Vegas Strip. The show’s intricate plot will transport audience members into a virtual world through raw, interactive, adrenaline-packed performances interlaced with surreal characters and high-tech digital imaging. With 30 percent of the show performed in Spanish, “Raw Talent Live” will feature talented dancers, singers and musicians along with live, original music, performed nightly at 8:30 p.m., dark Wednesdays, inside the Raw Talent Live Theater at the Sahara Hotel & Casino. Interested parties can log on to RawTalent.com to learn more about the surreal world, read character profiles and performer blogs, learn more about the show and the show’s creator ND, and purchase tickets and show memorabilia.
Tickets Go On Sale Friday for Final Performances of MAMMA MIA! at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino.
Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus’ global smash hit musical MAMMA MIA!, based on the songs of ABBA, will play its final performance at Mandalay Bay Theatre in Las Vegas on Sunday, January 4, 2009. Tickets for the final performance go on sale this Friday, September 26, 2008 at 10:00 a.m.
After nearly six years on The Strip, MAMMA MIA! prepares to end its record-breaking engagement after celebrating more than 2,100 performances and two million guests to date.
MAMMA MIA! set the precedent for musicals in Las Vegas, as no other full-length Broadway show has ever enjoyed such enduring success on The Strip.
"I am so grateful to the audiences who have supported MAMMA MIA! in Las Vegas over six record-breaking years," said global producer Judy Craymer. "I am proud that the popularity of the production in Las Vegas has opened the doors for other musicals to play on The Strip. This has been an extraordinary year for MAMMA MIA!, with the worldwide history-making success of the movie, as well as a glorious finish to a triumphant run at Mandalay Bay. We are leaving on such a high."
MAMMA MIA! premiered at Mandalay Bay Theatre on February 13, 2003. With an unforgettable musical score and irresistible story, the show earned a loyal fan base of locals and tourists alike and will be missed when the final curtain falls in January 2009.
"Point Break LIVE!" opens in Las Vegas.
Can You Keanu?
Point Break LIVE! is the absurdist stage adaptation of the classic 1992 Keanu Reeves/Patrick Swayze extreme-sports blockbuster. Fueled by 100% Pure Adrenaline, this production has been a smash hit in Manhattan, Seattle, Los Angeles and San Francisco – and now it’s storming the V Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip, beginning October 1st.
Point Break LIVE! tells the story of former college football star Johnny Utah — Keanu Reeves in the film — in hot pursuit of the surfing, bank-robbing, skydiving, bare-hand-fighting, adrenaline-junkie-cum-Zen-master Bodhi Sattva. The show features big-wave surfing, car chases, explosions and TWO extended skydiving sequences!
Best of all, each night a lucky individual will be selected from the audience to play the starring role of Keanu. In a method that captures the raw essence of a classic Keanu Reeves performance, the lead will read all his/her lines off cue-cards held by a diligent PA. The play will be filmed via the "Keanu Kam," and at the end of the night, the "volunteer Keanu" will receive a VHS tape of his/her performance!
The audience doesn't just watch Point Break LIVE!, they are in it! This action play offers a true cathartic experience, putting you in the water with the surfers, throwing you out the door of an airplane, and robbing you at gunpoint. So, leave your fineries at home… and be sure to purchase a Survival Kit at the start of the show. Survival Kits include a plastic emergency poncho to protect viewers from the action that literally spills off the stage.
Don’t miss the Ultimate Ride!
TRAVIS TRITT SET TO PERFORM AT TROPICANA LAS VEGAS
Country Legend Adds to National Finals Rodeo Excitement
Las Vegas, NV – Travis Tritt will perform at the Tropicana Las Vegas,
Dec. 5 at 10 p.m. and Dec. 6 at 9 p.m. in the Tiffany Theater. Tickets
priced as low as $60, plus applicable taxes and fees, are available at
the Tropicana Box Office.
Tritt is a Grammy award-winning American country music singer and
songwriter. He is best known for favorites such as “T-R-O-U-B-L-E,”
“It’s a Great Day to be Alive,” “Country Club,” “I’m Gonna
be Somebody” and “Here’s a Quarter.”
He was one of the leading new country singers of the 1990s, holding his
own against the likes of Garth Brooks, Clint Black and Alan Jackson.
Unlike others he didn’t wear a cowboy hat and was the only performer
to dip into bluesy southern rock. He soon developed a gutsy, outlaw
image that distinguished him from the pack and eventually led to
tremendous success.
Tritt continues to entertain audiences across the nation with a blend
of country favorites and a variety of new offerings from his latest
album “The Storm.”
“We are thrilled to host one of country music’s finest
performers,” said Tropicana Las Vegas Director of Marketing Randy
Sears. “We hope this will only add to the excitement of all that we
have to offer during National Finals Rodeo this year.”
Tickets for Travis Tritt are available at the Tropicana Box Office or
by calling 702-739-2411. Management reserves all rights. For additional
information visit www.tropicanalv.com.
About Tropicana Las Vegas-
The Tropicana Las Vegas has been a Las Vegas landmark since its
inception in 1957. The property is located at the corner of Las Vegas
Boulevard and Tropicana Avenue in the heart of the famed Las Vegas
Strip. Tropicana Las Vegas features six restaurants, an 850-seat Tiffany
Theater, three world renowned swimming pools complete with lush foliage
and cascading waterfalls, more than 1,800 hotel rooms and 61,000 square
feet of casino floor. For additional information on events, amenities or
availability call 702-739-2222 or visit www.tropicanalv.com.
TROPICANA HOSTS LAUGH TO CURE DIABETES CHARITY EVENT.
Celebrity Comedy Line-up Performs for a Cause
Las Vegas, NV – The Tropicana Las Vegas presents Laugh to Cure Diabetes
Oct. 5, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. in the Tiffany Theater. The all star comedy
line-up includes: Jon Manfrellotti, Pam Matteson, John Padon, Rob
Sherwood, Fielding West and several special celebrity guests.
Tickets for Laugh to Cure Diabetes are priced as low as $25 and are
available at the Tropicana Box Office or by calling 702-739-2411. All
ticket proceeds go to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF)
Nevada Chapter.
“We feel that it is important to not only be part of a community but
to give back to it as well,” said Tropicana Las Vegas Casino General
Manager Penny Baratta. “We encourage guests, employees, visitors and
locals alike to help raise money and awareness for a worthy cause
through an evening of entertainment.”
JDRF is the leading charitable advocate of type one diabetes (juvenile
diabetes) research worldwide. The foundation’s mission is to find a
cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research.
Type one diabetes is a disease that strikes children suddenly and
requires multiple injections of insulin. Insulin is not a cure for
diabetes nor does it prevent its eventual and devastating complications.
Complications may include: kidney failure, blindness, heart disease,
stroke and amputation.
For additional information visit www.tropicanalv.com and www.jdrf.org.
Vegas4Visitors Weekly Awards by Rick Garman
The Good Cause of the Week Award goes to Pink Jeep Tours, an adventure tour company that will be donating $4.80 from the sales of all Red Rock Tours during October to the Nevada Cancer Institute. You can find out more about their tours at PinkJeep.com.
The Kid Distraction of the Week Award goes to the Springs Preserve for the upcoming Haunted Harvest event. The Halloween themed extravaganza runs from October 16-31 and will include hay rides, safe trick-or-treating, musical entertainment, storytelling, and more – all great ways to keep the wee ones amused if you have decided to drag them along to the adult wonderland that is Vegas.
The Odds On Favorite of the Week Award goes to 16-year-old Cody Linley, the Disney Channel star who is being favored to win this fall’s “Dancing with the Stars” competition by Johnny Avello, the Director of Race and Sports Operations at Wynn Las Vegas. Linley is coming in at 4-1 odds with former N-Sync-er Lance Bass right behind at 5-1.
The That’s Gotta Hurt Award of the Week goes to comedian Jeffrey Ross who is coming in at the bottom of Johnny Avello’s “Dancing with the Stars” odds list at 50-1. Not only is he posting the longest odds for winning but he’s coming in behind 82-year-old Cloris Leachman. Dude, when an 82-year-old woman has better odds of winning a dance competition than you do, there’s something seriously wrong.
The Disclaimer of the Week Award goes to the aforementioned odds, which are just for fun. It’s not legal to bet on reality show competitions like this. Although that could liven things up in the Race and Sports Book couldn’t it?
http://vegas4visitors.com
Casino Cage Match:Green Valley Ranch vs.Red Rock Resort
By Rick Garman
This one’s gonna hurt. Let me state right up front that I love both of these hotels and picking a winner between them is going to be like picking a favorite child. It’s even more unfair since both of the hotels are owned by the same company so I’m probably driving the very nice people in the Station Casino’s PR department to the nearest bar right now. Sorry about that.
But the Cage Match will not be denied! So we bring you two local’s casino giants, the crown jewels of the Station Casino’s chain, among the best hotels in the entire city. Who will win the battle between Green Valley Ranch and Red Rock Resort? Read on.
Location
Green Valley Ranch is located about 10 miles from the south end of The Strip in Henderson while Red Rock is situated on the far west side of town, about 18 miles if you take the usually faster freeway instead of surface streets.
If there’s no traffic you can get to either one in about 15-20 minutes but GVR is closer to The Strip and therefore closer to the places most Vegas visitors will want to go so it wins this category.
Parking and Access
Both hotels are located right off the 215 freeway so getting in and out is easy at both.
There are two parking garages and a big lot at Green Valley Ranch, all of which are very convenient if you are going to the casino or the restaurants. But getting to the front desk requires quite a long haul through a hallway on the main level, down one floor via elevator or stairs, and then another long hallway. You can avoid this with valet parking, but this category is all about the do-it-yourself variety.
Red Rock Resort also has two garages, but one of them (to the left as you pull in) is located right next to the lobby. Walk in, go down one level on the elevator, and you’re a few feet from checking in.
The clear winner here is Red Rock Resort.
Checking In
Both hotels have the very annoying (in my book) multi-lane check-in, which means there are multiple agents each with their own queue and you have to decide which line you’re going to stand in. I always choose the one that is moving slowest so I prefer the version where a single line queues up to the next available agent.
The good news is that both hotels are relatively small by Vegas standards so I have never had to wait more than a few minutes to get to agent at either property.
The Green Valley Ranch lobby is a warm den of a space, with plush chairs, a big globe, and cozy surroundings. The Red Rock lobby, on the other hand, is dramatic with a soaring lobby bar adjacent and beautiful textures and art to look at.
They are both great spaces for totally different reasons so I’m declaring this category at tie.
Getting to Your Room
At Green Valley Ranch, ease of room access from the lobby depends on which wing you’re in. One has elevators near the front desk while the other requires you to go back upstairs and back down that long hallway to get to. Neither require you to go through the casino, but it is a long haul anyway.
Over at Red Rock the guest elevators are right next to the front desk. Easy-peasy.
Red Rock wins another category.
Rooms
The Green Valley Ranch rooms are gorgeous, with some of the most comfortable beds I’ve ever had the pleasure of sleeping in. The décor is understated and quietly elegant; more classical with rich fabrics and woods. And of course they are stocked to the brim with every pampering bit of convenience you could imagine.
Red Rock’s rooms are more modern, with sleek lines mixing well with the multi-varied textures you find everywhere (is that leather on the walls in the bathroom? Yes it is). Equally well-stocked with conveniences, the big bonus here are the views of The Strip in the distance from the one side of the hotel and gorgeous Red Rock Canyon on the other.
The rooms at Red Rock seem bigger and more luxurious (even though they probably aren’t) and you can’t beat those views, so Red Rock gets this category.
Casino
Red Rock’s casino is larger and offers a lot more gambling options, plus it’s got something to look at everywhere you turn. The beautiful textures of stone, wood, glass, and crystal make this one of the prettiest casinos in town.
Over at Green Valley Ranch, the space is more intimate and warm. It is smaller and so there are fewer machines and tables to try but there’s something about the casino here that makes me feel comfortable as soon as I walk in. It’s not at all intimidating and even cozy in certain areas, which makes gambling a much more enjoyable experience.
I’ve also won significantly more and more often at Green Valley than at Red Rock.
The environs and the completely unfair (but true) yardstick of overall winnings give this category to Green Valley Ranch.
Service and Amenities
These two hotels are almost perfectly matched in this category. Both offer almost unparalleled levels of personal, friendly, and efficient service and both offer a whole host of things to do on site. Both have tons of great restaurants, beautiful pool areas, terrific spas, movie theatres, bars and nightclubs, and much more.
So if the property’s themselves are essentially equal, I have to go slightly off-property to find a difference here.
Red Rock Resort is still a bit of an oasis when it comes to the neighborhood in which it’s located. There are plenty of houses and a big box style shopping center across the street, but for now the bulk of the land surrounding the resort is undeveloped.
Right next door to Green Valley Ranch is the very cool District shopping complex. It’s packed with interesting stores and boutiques and is surrounded by even more restaurants (including a PF Chang’s and a great BBQ place).
As the area around Red Rock develops this may change, but for now I have to give this one to Green Valley Ranch.
Cost
Looking at their rate calendar for the next few months, I’m seeing rates at Green Valley Ranch as low as $100 on weekdays and $150 on weekends, but the more common prices are $150-250 and $200-300 respectively.
Red Rock’s rates are almost identical for the same time period so that gives us another tie category.
The Decision
Green Valley Ranch gets a point each for winning Location, Casino, and Service and Amenities plus a half point each for the ties on Checking In and Cost. Red Rock gets a point for each of the categories it won (Parking and Access, Getting to Your Room, and Rooms) plus half points for the ties on Checking In and Cost.
That makes it 4 to 4. Ladies and Gentlemen we have a tie!
Vegas4Visitors Weekly Column by Rick Garman
10th Anniversary Special: Las Vegas By: Rick Garman.
September marks the 10th Anniversary of Vegas4Visitors.com! I was going to write a new essay on Las Vegas and what weird, wacky, and wonderful city it is but then I realized that I already wrote a pretty good one for my Moon Handbooks Las Vegas. So, to continue our celebration of our 10th Anniversary, I thought I’d give you an exclusive excerpt from my book. Enjoy! When Las Vegas was first stumbled upon, it must have seemed like a mirage shimmering in the distance. Miles of unrelenting, unforgiving terrain through rock sun-scorched deserts and mountains finally gave way to a valley verdant with trees and plants fed from natural springs. It was a refuge from the harsh world beyond its borders offering rest, comfort, and possibility.
This oasis later became a rest stop of sorts along the Old Spanish Trail, a place for travelers to pause during their long journey across the untamed West of the early 1800s. Native Americans who inhabited the area had a name for the place, the Spanish term for “The Meadows.” They called it Las Vegas.
Hundreds of years later, Las Vegas remains a literal oasis. It is considered to be the most geographically isolated major city in the United States, surrounded by mountains with miles of nothing but scrub brush and dirt in every direction beyond its glittery borders. The nearest metropolis of major significance is more than 200 miles away, so the city still acts for some as a place to stop on their way elsewhere.
But for millions of people, Las Vegas has become more than a pit stop; it has become the destination, a figurative oasis where one can shrug off the harsh realities of the world beyond its borders.
The city still surprises upon first viewing. Drive in from Los Angeles along I-15 through the desolate and barren stretches of desert and it’s easy to imagine heading toward the edge of the world. Okay, the billboards every mile or so advertising $5.95 prime rib specials and the traffic jams of SUVs might make it difficult to truly cast yourself as the lone survivor of some global apocalypse, but you’re headed toward a land of fantasy, so just go with it.
Passing through the middle of nowhere, I-15 suddenly takes a turn to the left, circles around a stony outcropping, and there it is: the gleaming gold tower of Mandalay Bay, the hulking black pyramid of Luxor, the big green monster that is the MGM Grand, the giant space needle jutting into the sky at Stratosphere, and, of course, there’s the white and gold edifice of an actual Mirage.
Las Vegas and surrounding Clark County are a region of mind-boggling proportion when you look at the numbers and the consistent litany of “most,” “biggest,” and “more than any other” ascriptions. It is home to more than 1.8 million residents, with more than 5,000 new transplants arriving every month, making it one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in America for the last decade or so. It draws about 40 million people annually to its shiny palaces of excess, making it the number one tourist destination in the country.
The city hosts eight of the ten biggest hotels in the world; the Stratosphere has the tallest observation tower west of the Mississippi; the Luxor has the biggest indoor atrium; and the most expensive privately financed construction project in the nation’s history, the CityCenter, costing over $9 billion will be ready for its first occupants in 2009.
Need rest? You can usually find a place to do it here with about 135,000 hotel rooms in the area and thousands more on the way, more than any other city in the world. On the other hand, the nationwide hotel occupancy rate hovers around 65%, while the occupancy rate in Vegas is over 90%, meaning you may have trouble find a room that someone isn’t already sleeping in.
Looking for comfort? You’ve got that here, too, with world-class dining, spas, and other comforting distractions available at every turn.
And what about possibility? Yes, they’ve got that covered here as well in the form of games of chance. There is no other spot on earth where you’ll find more slot machines concentrated in a smaller geographical area. There is more square footage of casino space in Las Vegas than in any other city. And all that square footage adds up to big gaming revenue, more than $10 billion annually and growing every year.
But those 40 million folks aren’t just dropping their money in video poker machines. It is estimated that tourism brings in more than $39 billion a year from accommodations, dining, entertainment, and, of course, shopping. Las Vegas is now considered to be the number one shopping destination in the country and proudly displays, as evidence, The Forum Shops at Ceasars Palace, an ornate mall that generates one of the highest incomes per square foot of any mall in the world.
Set the numbers aside, thought, and the city still looms large, both legendary and mythic at the same time. This is where Elvis married Priscilla and made his big comeback; where Frank, Dean, and Sammy turned the moniker “The Rat Pack” from an insult into an institution; where Liberace mastered the complexities of camp and made “wink-wink, nudge-nudge” humor safe for America. Vegas hosted Howard Hughes and the mafia, perfected topless reviews and all-you-can-eat buffets, encompassed both high class and the lowest common denominator, blending all of the larger-than-life ingredients to create the place we love to call Sin City.
As Vegas glitters in the distance from I-15, motorists generally react with something like “It shouldn’t be there. It doesn’t look real. What kind of demented imagination would place this jaw-dropping, visual overload of a city smack-dab in the middle of a desert?”
Well, I suppose that’s why they call it an oasis.
Vegas4Visitors Weekly Column by Rick Garman
Montilicious from "The Vegas Eye" BY Monte Rock.
Locals and visitors alike will soon be in for a cool treat. The media was invited to a special preview of the construction of the world's very first permanent ice lounge. It covers more than 2000 square feet and every inch is done with ice imported from Canada. Everything ice, chairs, tables, bars, floors, on and on. It's Minus 5 Experience at Mandalay Place which is adjacent to Mandalay Bay Resort. Stay tuned for more info on this one. Another local treat will be the addition of Friday evening salsa danicng at the Fiesta (Lake Mead and Rancho) beginning Oct 4.to the music of the great Micito Sanchez band. Then in Feb, the new Alliante Hotel/Casino will be also presenting this same band, featuring Johnny (Dandy) Rodriguez on bongos, campana and guiro, to provide the best in latin dance music.
More people are eating at home more often, so much so that many of our higher priced restaurants have introduced lower priced items to their menus.. Many of the hotels and casinos are slipping too, however, the multi-billion dollars City Center is growing and supposedly will open on time.
The M Resort is also
scheduled to open on time. Go figure.
http://thevegaseye.com/montella/
JOHN L. SMITH: Former Sahara employees savor memories of style, spectacle and celebrity.
By: John L.Smith/Las Vegas Review Journal
Blair Willey's bow tie was loose, but his Sahara dealer's uniform still fit him right down to the green apron.
If that oxygen bottle and breathing line hadn't betrayed him, Willey could have passed for a Sahara dice dealer on his break. At 77 and retired, he looked like he could still run a game even after logging 50 years in the business.
Willey was one of the dozens of former Sahara employees who assembled Thursday at the Palace Station for their annual reunion. (The meeting room was provided with an assist from casino industry icon Frank Fertitta Jr., who once dealt at the Sahara.) To look at it nowadays, as it stands on the boulevard in the metaphorical shadow of the Strip's mega-resorts, you might not think the Sahara would engender such warm sentiment. But the people I spoke with cherish their memories of the casino and hotel that was once home to lounge legends Louis Prima and Keely Smith as well as a host of Hollywood celebrities.
More here:
http://www.lvrj.com/news/29582679.html
DOUG ELFMAN: 'Zumanity' still dips into art of lust after five years.
It may be the most visually striking moment on any current stage in Las Vegas.
Two women wearing nothing but skimpy bottoms do handstands atop a 500-gallon "water bowl," then contort their legs behind their heads and slip into the bowl.
This goes on for six minutes, as the women intertwine seductively and move in slow-motion acrobatics, in four feet of 99-degree water and on the bowl's edge. Suffice it to say, the act's creator, Gyulnara Karaeva, has no problem with the nudity.
The reason for my kind words now is "Zumanity" is celebrating its fifth birthday today.
More from The Las Vegas Review Journal here:
http://www.lvrj.com/news/29233254.html
Here's a little known Strip fact:
By: Howard Stutz/Las Vegas Review Journal
There are actually two volcanos at The Mirage.
When Steve Wynn built the resort's feature in 1988, designers constructed a smaller version to test the attraction's capabilities.
What started as a $150,000 quarter-scale mock-up grew to a cost of more than $1 million. Like the full-size version, the volcano erupted with fire, steam and water. Wynn never removed the miniature.
The smaller mountain still sits within a garden near The Mirage's walk-in entrance.
MGM Mirage is spending $25 million to turn the 20-year-old Mirage volcano into a choreographed fire-and-water-spewing spectacle set to a soundtrack.
http://www.lvrj.com/business/28908149.html
MIKE WEATHERFORD: Cirque co-founder on rumor control.
Harry Reid claims John McCain is hotheaded. Names for the opposite of that aren't as colorful. Is anyone called a "cool head"? But Gilles Ste-Croix could be submitted as the dictionary definition of one.
He's a co-founder of Cirque du Soleil, a '60s hippie who gives off what hippies called "good vibes," always congenial and smiling.
And that makes the former stilt-walker perfect for a very specific job. Whenever — and wherever — Cirque has a new show about to open, Ste-Croix is the guy who comes in to help the creators get to the finish line. "The last stretch, that's when you see the real runner in a marathon," he says.
More from The Las Vegas Review Journal here:
http://www.lvrj.com/living/28908259.html
NORM: LV all shook up about Elvis star.
Elvis Presley is once again a star on Las Vegas Boulevard.
In a ceremony Friday that featured three of his old pals, the Las Vegas Walk of Stars honored The King with a celebrity star that will go in front of the Riviera near those of fellow icons Liberace and Sammy Davis Jr.
"Elvis has come home to stay," Elvis fan club president Sue Laurenz told a cheering crowd. Her group, the Viva Las Vegas Club, raised most of the $15,000 needed for the star, the 27th to go on The Strip.
With that mission accomplished, the next step should be getting a street named after Elvis, said Joe Esposito, one of the three members of Elvis' Memphis Mafia who attended the ceremony in the Riviera's Le Bistro Lounge.
"I don't understand why there isn't a street named after Elvis," said Esposito, Elvis' road manager and best man at Presley's wedding to Priscilla. That brought down the house, too.
It's become a sore point to Elvis fans, after seeing a half dozen other entertainers get streets named in their honor.
Elvis, said Riviera president Bob Vannucci, didn't just fill the showroom, "he filled the city."
Also attending was Sammy Shore, Elvis' opening act for years during his long run at The International (now the Las Vegas Hilton), and Sonny West, Presley's bodyguard and close friend, and Pete "Big Elvis" Valle, who played a big part in getting Elvis his start.
http://www.lvrj.com/news/29835674.html
Sentimental Journey
Glow sticks never stop waving along Manilow's nostalgic path.
By Paul Syzdelko/Las Vegas Magazine
They're the words and melodies together that have made the whole world sing. "Well, you kissed me and stopped me from shakin' and I need you today. Oh, Mandy!" "It's a miracle, a true blue spectacle." "If you only knew what I'm going through, I just can't smile without you."
Wistful songs, romantic lyrics and an unapologetically nostalgic vibe surround Ultimate Manilow: The Hits like a big, warm comforter. But underneath the soothing familiarity is a certain effervescence that stirs passion and draws smiles.
The first thing you notice when Barry Manilow walks onstage is the immediate recognition of many of the songs and the instant adulation fans have for the singer. Effusive members of the audience lucky enough to sit up close on either side of the stage might get a quick chance to interact with the musical icon.
Of course, the accolades are well-earned. Manilow has been a prolific part of the music world more than 30 years, and his most recent albums, including The Greatest Songs of the '70s, have soared to the top of the charts.
Opening and closing with "It's a Miracle," Manilow covers most of his hits and celebrates the music of eras that came before in a venue that saw Elvis sell out 837 consecutive shows.
In between the joyous renditions of songs from a performer who never seems to forget the expectations of the audience members, many of whom wave glow sticks throughout the show, Manilow reveals a little about himself. He recalls how his grandfather encouraged his musical talent, and a scratchy recording he made as a child in a Times Square music booth is played.
A lively band and dancers-singers accompany Manilow on the well-paced musical journey. Keyboardists take turns playing solo at the piano during the lively "New York City Rhythm."
Fanilows and everybody else in the theater stare and listen with rapt attention when Manilow does a duet with his 30-years-younger self on "Mandy." His performance on The Midnight Special is projected on a video screen while he plays the piano with the same sincerity and tenderness that made him a star so many years ago.
Kicking the energy up, Manilow steps onto a large portable platform that swings out about eight rows over the audience for "Copacabana."
It's a satisfying evening of memories and music from a showman who draws energy from his fans and who always remembers the "love and special things" that have sold more than 75 million albums worldwide.
http://lvshowbiz.com/
The Life Immersed
Getting in sync with the swimmers of Le Rêve.
By: Kate Silver/Las Vegas Magazine
It's not everywhere that you can see underwater footage. The Olympics spring to mind, and, well, so does Shark Week on the Discovery Channel. But in a production show? Not until recently, with the opening of Le Rêve Theater's VIP Champagne Circle at the Wynn. Here, viewers lounge in cushy, spacious chairs that encircle the top row of the theater-in-the-round, sipping champagne while watching this artistic exploration called Le Rêve, or The Dream. As the fire and water take center stage, you'll have to decide where to look: at the dancing and flying furniture above the water or the video screens at your feet, showcasing the synchronized swimming and underwater acrobatics going on below.
It's a difficult decision, but, ultimately, watching below the water (and behind the scenes) wins. The televisions highlight the best views of the 14 synchronized swimmers, along with the literal and figurative depth they bring to the show. As the theatrical world has come to expect in a Franco Dragone production (he created "O" and Mystère while he was with Cirque du Soleil), these aren't just any synchronized swimmers. They come from across the world, and each has competed on the international level. Part of their skill lies in making the performance look so effortless, whether they're climbing slippery trees, flipping over trapezes or performing a sensual underwater tango. It's a beautiful view from any of the seats, but if you're in front of one of the screens, it's absolutely stunning.
"I think it's really great that the audience gets to see what we're doing, and what our whole world is under there, because it's so different from what they see from above," said Paula Holmwood, a national and international competitor from Canada who swims in Le Rêve.
What you see is the flipping, swirling, sheer strength and grace of the swimmers as they put on the show-beneath-the show.
"We used to compare it to a combination of water polo, long-distance running, dancing and gymnastics. If you combine all those, that's kind of how synchronized swimming is," said Christina Lum, a San Francisco native who competed nationally and on the U.S. Olympic team. "We're all national-team Olympic level, and we trained many, many years. So for us, it's something that we're used to doing."
Dacha Nedorezova, who coaches the swimmers, also emphasizes the skills required.
"Technically, it's extremely hard," Nedorezova said. "Girls are upside-down for three minutes and have to support themselves with their arms. It's very difficult, and only the effort of an international level can do that."
Nedorezova was on the national synchronized swimming team for the Soviet Union from 1988 until 1991. She left the competitive sport to join a French company, which was the first to do aquatic shows. In learning how to use the trapeze and other circus-style tricks, she was able to complement and expand her swimming repertoire.
It wasn't long before more and more shows followed suit and began incorporating swimming. It was a chance for synchronized swimmers to find jobs outside of the realm of competition. Nedorezova was the natural choice for coaching a cast.
She's also been instrumental in the choreography and is responsible for coming up with the "Tango" scene. Here, the swimmers' sparkling red shoes shoot out of the water, performing a flirtatious upside-down dance. Nedorezova remembers the moment of inspiration for the number.
"There was a very precise moment in my life. I was watching Moulin Rouge, and there is this tango, and it's very interesting the way we see this tango. There's a little movement, and then something else happens. A little movement, and then something else happens. So I was thinking what I could do that's different from trapeze and synchronized swimming…What if we try to do the tango in the water?" It's since become one of the favorite moments for her and the swimmers.
But, choreography aside, what's really valuable to Nedorezova and others is the opportunities that shows such as Le Rêve offer to synchronized swimmers everywhere. Once the sport had limited options as a career, but times have changed, drastically.
"It's important for girls to see that there is a future after competition," Nedorezova said. "They discover that they can have a career doing something that they love to do."
http://lvshowbiz.com/
Brett's Vegas Views By Jackie Brett.
The 600-seat Golden Nugget's Showroom completed a major expansion and renovation in October 2006. This Dec 5-12, the showroom will host Miranda Lambert, Pat Green, Ronnie Milsap and The Charlie Daniels Band during NFR.'
The Mirage has announced details of a $25 million redesign to its signature Strip-front volcano that first erupted in 1989. The resort has joined forces with legendary Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart, Indian tabla sensation Zakir Hussain and Fountains of Bellagio design firm WET, to create an all-new, seven-minute, audio/visual spectacle that will be completed later this year.
Hart and Hussain will create and perform a one-of-a-kind soundtrack arranged exclusively for the iconic blast. Further enhancing the overall experience, the volcano will feature a new Meyer Sound state-of-the-art sound system with more than 60 sound cabinets placed throughout the lagoon.
WET will introduce the latest innovations to the project and mesh a primal volcanic environment of sound, light, music and heat. WET's choreographed FireShooters™ will send massive fireballs more than 12 feet into the air using the latest developments in flame-expression technology and feature eruptions of fiery "lava" flowing down the mountain's fissures in a series of lively flames.
The overhaul scheduled for completion later this year is the final step in the property's ongoing transformation that began in 2006 and most recently included a $110 million room and suite redesign.
To discover more about the volcano visit mirage.com and also enter The Mirage Volcano Memories Contest and to win a trip to The Mirage.
LBS: A Burger Joint, slated to open Sept. 23 at the Red Rock Casino Resort and Spa, will reinvent the classic American burger joint by offering home-style items prepared with organic, never-frozen ingredients and join nine other restaurants at the resort. Chef Anthony Meidenbauer, formerly of Wynn Las Vegas, will feature fresh, homemade pickles daily in a variety of ways including his specialty, fried pickles.
The meat will come from cattle raised naturally and the 18-21 day dry-aging process will make the meat exceptionally tender and flavorful. LBS will also offer fresh, all-natural veggie burgers with more than 22 farm fresh vegetables and grains. Additionally, LBS will make fresh sauces to top all of its burgers.
LBS Burger Joint will strive to be as "eco-friendly" as possible even using reclaimed building products during construction and custom to-go packaging made from 100-percent recycled products that can be recycled after being used. Even the drinking straws will be 100-percent bio-degradable.
The 2008 Flip Cup Tournament will begin Thursday, Oct. 2 at 10 p.m. at the 7,000-square-foot McFadden's Restaurant and Saloon inside the Rio. Thursday night will feature $5 pitcher and $2 pint specials as teams of five or less go head-to-head in a double elimination round. The winning teams will advance to the finals on Friday, Oct. 3 beginning at 9 p.m., where one team will win the coveted title, trophy and hefty royalties. But everyone is a winner for only $25, which guarantees unlimited beer on tap from 9 p.m. to midnight.
This year's Wine Amplified Festival will be held at Mandalay Bay Beach on Saturday, Sept. 27. Tickets, which include all wine tasting, live entertainment and a $10 voucher good towards a wine purchase at local Lee's Discount Liquors and Khoury's Fine Wines are priced at $60 in advance and $65 the day of the show, call 702-632-7580. Food is available for additional charge.
The wine festival entertainment lineup will feature: The Gin Blossoms; Sherwood, an indie quintet from San Luis Obispo, Calif.; self-taught musician Jeremy Cornwell; a new group started six months ago, A Penny For Jane; and an acoustic duo The Bends.
Presented by Showtime Championship Boxing, Light Heavyweight Champion Antonio Tarver (27-4, 19 KO's) will battle undefeated former WBC Light Heavyweight Champion Chad Dawson (26-0, 17 KO's) for the IBF Light Heavyweight Championship title on Saturday, Oct. 11, at The Pearl at the Palms. Showtime will also present the WBC Heavyweight World Championship bout, matching Vitali Klitschko (35-2, 24 KO's) and Samuel Peter (30-1, 23 KO's). This bout will be shown on a tape-delayed basis from Berlin, Germany. First bout is at 4:15 p.m. Tickets are a$153, $303, $503 and $753, call 702-474-4000.
http://www.lasvegas-nv.com/brett/index.htm
This Week's Vegas Values Report.
The below information is supplied by Scot Krause, our roving reporter,who supplies us each week with information on the best Las Vegaspromotions. It's only available here on the americancasinoguide.com web site so be sure to come back each Sunday to find out about the best values in Las Vegas.
http://www.americancasinoguide.com/Promotions/VEGAS-VALUES.shtml
CanadianCrapShooter's Random Drunken (Vegas) Thoughts.
From: www.vegastripping.com
On our recent trip to Vegas, Mrs. CrapShooter and I noticed a number of things that we found quite interesting. The following is a list that we wrote on my smart phone while stumbling up and down the strip. You might notice a large percentage of bathroom thoughts, this is unintentional. I guess we just spent a lot of time in them. The list is heavily edited because, quite frankly, the notes I took didn't make a whole lot of sense after the fact. If you are interested in seeing the unedited list, complete with awful spelling, send me an @richardspence message on Twitter.
Disclaimer: The Mrs. and I have only been to Vegas a few times in the last 3 years. We are by no means Vegas experts. Some of the things that we noticed could have quite possibly been around for a while, this was just the first time we saw them. There are also some of our opinions in this list. If you don't agree with something here, leave a comment and explain your piece.
Now without further ado, on to the list.
http://www.vegastripping.com/features/feature.php?feature_id=151&page=1
The Original Las Vegas Podcast.
Las Vegas podcast #182 includes:
Root of All Evil opener
Criss Angel Believe delayed yet again
LOVE documentary “All Together Now”
Point Break Live
Gordie Brown returns to downtown
Forbes calls Sheldon Adelson a big loser
What’s up with the Harrah’s arena?
CityCenter construction
http://www.fivehundybymidnight.com/fhbm/
Manilow debuts “all new” show with “all old” hits.
By: Robin Leach/Vegas Luxe Life/Las Vegas Weekly
When songwriting pianist genius Barry Manilow kicks off a whole new series of shows tonight (Wednesday) at the Hilton, it will be nothing but his hits!
His old Music and Passion show has been replaced by Ultimate Manilow: The Hits. He’s got a whole new set, a whole new staging extravaganza and an entire new song list.
Hilton executives confirmed that the previous show featured both other people’s songs and some of his hits. Now they tell me the new show primarily features all his hits: “I Write the Songs,” “Mandy,” “Weekend in New England,” and the list goes on.
Barry plays here through Saturday night, then returns for four days next week starting Wednesday and again from October 22 through Halloween. Yes — he’s still commuting back and forth each night by private plane to his Palm Springs home.
I’ve known Barry for decades back to early New York days when he was a piano teacher and before his fame exploded as Bette Midler’s backup pianist in the gay Continental Baths on Manhattan’s upper west side. I won’t have the opportunity to chat with him on Friday evening, when he hosts a gala media night for the new show, so be sure to check my fellow super-scribe here at LasVegasWeekly.com over the weekend. Intrepid writer-editor-broadcaster John Katsilometes will be at the Hilton, while I’m busy getting first night reaction to Criss Angel’s debut Believe preview show at the Luxor. Check right here on Saturday for both our Criss and Barry stories.
http://lasvegasweekly.com/blogs/luxe-life/2008/sep/24/manilow-debuts-all-new-show-all-old-hits/
Minus 5 gives a whole new meaning to ice, ice, ice.
By: Jerry Fink/Las Vegas Sun
Hundred-pound blocks of ice line the walls of the unfurnished room.
Excuse me, almost unfurnished. The ice – 18 tons of it — is the furniture, or will be.
An ice bar, ice tables, ice sculptures.
The room is in transformation, scheduled to open as Minus 5 Experience any day now in Mandalay Place, which is part of Mandalay Bay. This will be the first in this country, the sixth in the franchise, with more to open.
Craig Ling – wearing a parka – leads a guided tour of his new lounge, which might be dubbed a meat locker meet market. Although, if you want to meet someone in this bar you have to do it quick because the temperature is 27 degrees, which is minus 5 celcius, thus the name of the club.
Ling’s breath is visible as he explains the novelty nightclub, where you won’t be seeing many women in low-cut gowns or men with shirts open to the naval. What you will see is a lot of parkas and bootees.
Admission will be $30 for a 30-minute state in the igloo-like environment. The price includes one drink, probably vodka, definitely not iced tea.
After freezing your rear in the lounge, you can warm it the Minus 5 Lodge next door, sort of an old-fashioned ski hut.
http://www.lasvegassun.com/blogs/culture/2008/sep/24/minus-5-gives-whole-new-meaning-ice-ice-ice/
To celebrate icon’s 50th birthday, movement afoot for national recognition.
By: Kristen Peterson/Las Vegas Sun
Tourists from all over the world pose for photos under the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign.
The iconic image of mid-20th century Las Vegas, designed to greet visitors driving into town from California, has been reproduced on, well, nearly everything.
It turns 50 next year.
To show that it has become far more than a clever marketing tool, Clark County officials are working to have the sign listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
More here:
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/sep/25/celebrate-icons-50th-birthday-movement-afoot-natio/
Las Vegas Top Ten Values/October 2008 from The Las Vegas Advisor.
1. Eastside Cannery – Eastside Cannery – Daily – Free
The Eastside Cannery occupies this month’s #1 slot, by virtue of its opening, as is our tradition at LVA. It's the first of four major casino openings between now and next March: Aliante Station (November), Encore (Decmeber), and M Resort (March).
2. Steak Dinner – Ellis Island – 24 hours – $6.95
The complete steak dinner at Ellis Island is the best-value meal deal in a city full of good-value meal deals. It’s a 10-ounce filet-cut sirloin, which comes with salad, garlic green beans, choice of potato, and fresh microbrewed beer, all for $6.95. A note on logistics: Every other Monday, the Ellis Island coffee shop shuts almost all the way down for a thorough cleaning and the steak shuts down with it. If you’re planning on going to EI after dinner hours on a Monday, we recommend calling first to see if it’s the right or wrong night to do so.
3. Shrimp Cocktail – Golden Gate – 11 am-2 am – 99¢
The Golden Gate shrimp cocktail? The one that went up a buck last April after more than 15 years at 99¢? The one that shocked the bargain-city faithful to their collective core? The one whose 100% increase should’ve been enough to drop it entirely from consideration? That shrimp cocktail? Well, there’s more to this than meets the eye. First, all you have to do is show a players club card to get the shrimp at the old price. Sure, the extra step (if you’re not already a member) might’ve docked the deal a few spots, but a coupla sign-up bennies mitigate the five-minute inconvenience. More important, the shrimp are bigger and better.
4. Breakfast Special – Wild Wild West – 24 Hours – $1.49
The $1.49 breakfast special at Wild Wild West is the same one we’ve been touting for the past several months that’s also served at Wildfire, Gold Rush, and Magic Star. However, now it’s available 24 hours at WWW, as opposed to just midnight to 11 am at the others.
5. Sign-Up Promotion – Hooters – Daily – Free
The power of the Hooters players club sign-up is in the free tickets for the Bobby Slayton show, although some other goodies come with the deal, such as the new coupon for $10 in cashback after earning 10 points on the card.
6. Fontana Bar – Bellagio – Daily – $6
The $6 charge at the Fontana Lounge is the cost of a beer to satisfy the one-drink minimum and see the show in Las Vegas’ classiest lounge.
7. Buffet – Mirage – Daily – $13.95-$24.95
The Mirage Cravings buffet is convenient at center Strip, has better hours than most (opening for dinner at 3 pm), and features an expansive choice of gourmet offerings. Tour the large selection first to take in the variety: a half-dozen soups; dim sum, sushi, Chinese appetizers, and salads at the Asian station; antipasto bar; barbecue station; bagel fixin’s; made-to-order salads, extensive desserts; and more. The Mirage is the best-value gourmet superbuffet, with the highest quality and lowest prices, among Las Vegas’ best spreads.
8. Parlay Card – Hard Rock – Weekly – Free
Number 8 on this month’s hit parade is the Hard Rock’s excellent free-parlay-card deal. You can play a free 4-, 5-, 6-, or 7-team parlay with an expected value of at least $3.13 per card. And you participate in this promotion every week for the remainder of the NFL regular season.
9. Hot Dog – South Point – 11 am-5 pm – 75¢
Removed from the Top Ten is the Tropicana’s “Comedy Stop,” which implemented a surprising $2 price increase after years of standing pat and at a time when most prices in town are going in the opposite direction. (What can we say? The “Comedy Stop” is independent, but it’s still the Trop.) Taking its place is the hot dog sold from the sports book cart at South Point. It’s just 75¢ for an all-beef Vienna, with kraut and onions added at no extra charge. The same deal is available in the Suncoast sports book, but South Point is more easily accessible, and you can check out the casino’s new tower.
Note: The South Point hot dog is sold from a cart the sports book.
10. Monday Night Football Parties – Sam's Town Suncoast – Mondays – Free
Football parties are the highlight of Monday nights through December. We checked out nearly 40 of them and found two, the parties at Sam’s Town and the Suncoast, to be of Top Ten caliber. You get a free hot dog (or a hamburger at Sam's). You also get a free beer. And, of course, Monday Night Football is served on big screens throughout the venues.
http://lasvegasadvisor.com/topten.cfm
Slot Reviews by Gayle Mitchell
Inca Legend: Konami. 88%. 3 spins
The jaguar symbol is wild substituting for the necklace, cup, bird, butterfly or any poker symbol. If one jaguar subs in a wining combo, the jackpot is doubled while two jaguars equal a jackpot multiplied by four. This graphically rich slot carries additional symbols of an ancient Inca temple and pyramid. Three four or five pyramid symbols scattered on the reels trigger 10, 15 or 20 free spins and can be re-triggered. As the set-up is arranged with 3 and 4 symbols on 5 reels, all wins are paid as scatters with 432 possible winning combinations. The ancient legend holds true today in that playing max coin brings forth maximum pays.
Shaman’s Magic: Aristrocrat. 88-95%. 2 spins
Stars and eclipses are spread across the screen on this slot waiting to begin a free spin round. The star begins 10 freebie spins during which an extra eclipse is added on the middle three reels. Between re-starting the freebie round and extra wild symbols, there are ample opportunities for collecting plenty of credits. Also, for your benefit, there are no paylines and all wins paid as scatters meaning this game has 247 possible winning combinations. That’s Magical!
Wizard of Oz: Wms. 86-94%. 2 spins
We’re going to the land of OZ down the Yellow Brick Road with Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion. From Munchkin Land to the Emerald City—watch for flying moneys and the Wicked Witch of the West and preferably Glinda the Good Witch.
Emerald’s City symbols on the first, third and fifth reels activate one of these 2 bonus rounds. Flying Monkey Bonus begins with this symbol appearing on the third reel, Listen for the sound of the Witch’s Guards–Oh ee ooh, eeooh, oh–when flying monkeys are transformed into wild symbols before your eyes offering up free spins and bonus credits.
Emerald City Bonus credits are revealed when you choose one of the emeralds appearing on the screen. A choice of the home of Dorothy, Lion, Scarecrow, Tin Man or the Emerald City creates a second choice to find one of more of the characters’ images for credits. The more characters at the end point—Emerald City’s Great Hall–equals increased awards. Let’s not forget Glinda the Good Witch who can appear randomly to transform reels into wild reels for future jackpots. This ‘wizard of creations’ combines with sound, rich graphics, superb animations and vibrating set for an exciting slot adventure.
There is always a welcome mat out to new subscribers.
I encourage you to invite your family and friends to join us.
TO SUBSCRIBE: Send a blank e-mail to: CPon@casinoplayersezine.com
Jackpot Bulletin: Winning Stories by Gayle Mitchell
1) Vacation Day Payoff
David Gene Aston, a warehouse worker from St. Louis, MO decided to use a vacation day to visit the Ameristar Casino in St. Charles, MO. After an $842,445 win at a Wheel of Fortune quarter MegaJackpot, the started winner declared, “I could not believe it. I really like the Wheel of Fortune game, but the machine I usually play was occupied. When the jackpot hit, I just could not believe it was real.” Future plans include paying some bills and house repairs, but no retirement plans.
2) A Simple Strategy
Ronald Peterson of Laguna Niguel, CA utilized a simple strategy when playing the slots—go with what you know. He says, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” and chose a Wheel of Fortune dollar slot machine that had paid previously. After playing only $34. at Harrah’s Rincon Casino, he struck for the $347,980. Megajackpot. “I thought I won $4000 and when they told me the real amount, I was stunned.” Peterson plans to keep on working and invest his winnings.
3) Hunka, Hunka Cash
Kimberly Sheridan, a regular at the Mohegan Sun hit for $452,464. at an Elvis MultiStrike penny progressive slot. Sheridan wagered only $75 and when the machine froze during play, she said she thought, “the machine had a glitch.”
Her plans were more for the immediate, rather than future. “My husband was going to see the Huskies play, so now I am sending more relatives down to see the game—on me.” There would also be a lobster dinner at the casino. As for her current job, the smiling winner said, “I love what I do.”
4)A Day Tripper
Julie Partacz, 59, from Oak Lawn, IL visits Isle of Capri, Bettendorf, IA with her group, known as the Day Trippers twice a year. The bank manager struck for $407,840. at a quarter Wheel of Fortune. Partacz bet only $30 after a friend offered a seat at the slot as she had to leave. “I love Wheel of Fortune and have won on it before; I did not realize how much I won this time. I’m still stunned by the amount.”
There is always a welcome mat out to new subscribers.
I encourage you to invite your family and friends to join us.
TO SUBSCRIBE: Send a blank e-mail to: CPon@casinoplayersezine.com
Rehab says goodbye to summer.
The Sunday party phenomenon is closing for the season at the Hard Rock.
By: Joe Brown/Las Vegas Sun
We know what you did this summer.
We saw you — and we saw almost all of you — sunning, strutting and shaking it every Sunday at Las Vegas' biggest, barest pool party, the afternoon fleshfest known as Rehab.
And since this Sunday is the last Rehab of the season, we've gotta say goodbye to the summer, with one last, long, lingering look.
More here:
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/sep/26/rehab-says-goodbye-summer/
SHOW REVIEW: 'Menopause The Musical'
Campy Cabaret: 'Menopause The Musical' good at what it does.
By MIKE WEATHERFORD/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
In early 2006, Las Vegas-based actress Paige O'Hara, the voice of Belle in Disney's "Beauty and the Beast," signed on to "Menopause The Musical" as a hormonal soap star with an appetite for younger men.
Her casting demonstrates merely the range of a working pro; the title itself is what seemed like an eyebrow-raiser for Las Vegas, more the stuff of little theater than the land under Soleil.
Its producers knew their stuff though. The campy cabaret musical kept two casts busy, and now is on the homestretch of a third year at the Las Vegas Hilton, and it's still a perfect fit for the cozy Shimmer Cabaret.
O'Hara remains onboard, but between then and now something very strange occurred: She had a cameo in Disney's princess-movie spoof "Enchanted," seen on a hotel room TV as none other than, yes, a soap star.
More Here:
http://www.lvrj.com/neon/29787729.html
TICKETS: Tickets on sale for first set of concerts at Aliante
LAS VEGASS REVIEW-JOURNAL
The first set of performers at the new Access Showroom at Aliante Station have been announced. Tickets for all of the following shows go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday at all Station casino box offices, at www.stationcasinos.com or by calling 547-5300. The Aliante Station ticket sales counter is not open yet.
http://www.lvrj.com/neon/29787739.html
MIKE WEATHERFORD: Station makes ring around valley.
Aliante Station will give Station Casinos a ring around the valley of entertainment venues, and for the first time the company will test two-night, twin-casino bookings for some of its concert acts.
Ticket sales begin Saturday for the first round of concerts in Aliante's Access Showroom, which debuts with Smokey Robinson on Nov. 14-15, three days after the rest of the casino opens.
Some concerts, such as REO Speedwagon on Nov. 22 and Bret Michaels on Nov. 28, will be exclusive to Aliante to give the new 600-seat venue an opening push. Other performers will do one night at Aliante and one at Green Valley Ranch: Jazz trumpeter Chris Botti, Godsmack singer Sully Erna and Damn Yankees bandmates Tommy Shaw and Jack Blades. Country legend Merle Haggard will play Aliante and Boulder Station.
More from The Las Vegas Review Journal here:
http://www.lvrj.com/neon/29735774.html
Posted on September 27th, 2008 by MrVegas98
Filed under: Newsletter
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